Remember, O Lord, those who are sick, those who suffer pain or loneliness or grief, those who draw near to death, and those whom we name in our hearts before you.
Comfort them with your presence, sustain them by your promises, grant them your peace. And now, rejoicing in the communion of the saints, we remember with thanksgiving all your faithful servants and those dear to us who serve you in the glory of heaven. Keep us in unbroken fellowship with your whole Church in heaven and on earth, and bring us at the last to the joy of your everlasting realm; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Church of Scotland: Book of Common Order)
Keep us in unbroken fellowship with your whole church. . . One of the less well known things about Holy Communion is the way that it illustrates our belief that the Church exists beyond time and space. What that means is this: imagine that you’re sitting down at a family meal…. look left and right, and you see the people who are physically present. But look up, or down, or off in the distance, and it’s as if you can see the people who were there – last year, last decade, last century. When we gather for communion, we are eating with all the other people who have ever shared that meal with us, all our friends, all our family, all our fellow believers all over the world.
In a time when we are separated by the dangers of an illness, it’s good to remember that virtual community is no new thing for Christians. We have always taught that we are part of a virtual community which reaches out in space – and in time. The sign of this community, the guarantee that it is real, is that meal, usually bread and grape juice, which we share together monthly.
Our eating together has been upset by the suspension of physical gatherings, but now it is beginning to re-imagine itself as a virtual meal in a new way. It’s not yet clear when and how, but soon we will use the magic of the internet to break bread with one another.
And – as you think of those who are ill, use this prayer to share their need and yours with God, and to remind yourselves that we are never wholly separated from God’s virtual community. We are never alone, never abandoned, always loved.
Easter blessings, Pastor Virginia
DON’T FORGET — TOMORROW AFTERNOON!!!!
TEATIME WITH THE PASTOR
every Wednesday from 1 to 2pm…
a time to chat and share, using the Zoom platform.
Email Pastor Virginia for the link at pastorchild02914@gmail.com
As you know, our Thrift Shop is closed, and we are losing that income. If you could send in additional money this month, we’d really appreciate it. All our staff is still on the payroll, we still have utility bills. Your gifts make it possible for us to continue. Checks may be mailed to the church at 5 Gibbs Avenue, Wareham MA 02571.
NEED SHOPPING HELP? Nancy MacNeill reports that her two granddaughters are offering to do shopping for anyone who can’t get out. Just contact Nancy at 508-280-3716 or <nlmacneill@comcast.net
PRAYER LIST
Want to add a concern or joy to the list? Email me at pastorchild02914@gmail.com
- from Susan Ryan: Lori Benson reports that Tim has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, but is asymptomatic. Please keep Tim and Lori in your prayers.
- from Oonagh Brault: Please add my friend Lindsay to the prayer list. She has just been diagnosed with COVID-19.
- from Oonagh Brault: my sister-in-law, Kathy, and her father, Jim, to the prayer list. Jim was diagnosed with COVID-19. He is now on hospice care. Kathy is suffering because she cannot be with her father during this trying time.
- from Elaine Johnson: (Elaine reports Janice is better, but still needs our prayers) Please add my sister Janice to the prayer list. She fell and has a small brain bleed and concussion and severed her ear which needed to be stitched back into place. She is home recovering.
- Prayers for all who work in the medical field as they deal with this crisis.
- from Nancy MacNeill, prayers for her cousin Pam Bergeron
- from Lydia Sherman: Please add Carrie Andrews to the prayer list. She’s the cousin to my nephew Christopher’s wife… She currently is on life-support and is only in her 30’s.
To Believe is to Care. . . To Care is to Do 